FR JIM'S JOTS - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 19, 2023

 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 19, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

Let us pray for the departed souls of the Black faithful of the Americas such as those captured iin Africa and who died in chains in the bowels of the slave ships or who embraced death over slavery; those lynched by racist mobs and the Ku Klux Klan; those runaway slaves who were captured and killed.

God of justice, in your wisdom you created all people in your image, without exception.  Through your goodness, open our eyes to see the dignity, beauty, and worth of every human being.  Open our minds to understand that all your children are brothers and sisters in the same human family.  Open our hearts to repent of racist attitudes, behaviors, and speech which demean others.  Open our ears to hear the cries of those wounded by racial discrimination, and their passionate appeals for change.  Strengthen our resolve to make amends for past injustices and to right the wrongs of history.  Fill us with courage that we might seek to heal wounds, build bridges, forgive and be forgiven, and establish peace and equality for all in our communities.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Blessings,

+ Fr. Jim Arsenault, Pastor

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